Swedish import top golfer for UT

You'd think college golf coaches would look in tropical climates for recruits.

Sweden, of all places, is quite the surprising jackpot.

"It's not a huge country,'' said Tennessee women's coach Judi Pavon, "but they've done a really good job with their junior program.

"They keep turning out good players. You're almost never disappointed when you have a Swede come over.''

That's been an understatement in the case of UT freshman Nathalie Mansson.

It didn't take long after Mansson got off the plane from Stockholm last fall for Pavon and the Lady Vols to figure out they had a good one.

"She's an even better player than we knew she could be,'' Pavon said.

"From the first tournament she played, her ball-striking was so consistent.''

Pavon hopes it will be consistent this week. The NCAA tournament starts today at the Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Md.

Mansson shot par in her first collegiate tournament and moved straight to the top of UT's team leaderboard.

Her stroke average, 73.45 per round, ranks third-lowest all-time in the program, trailing only Young-A Yang (73.06) in 2001 and Violetta Retamoza (73.18) in 2005.

During the spring season, Mansson is averaging 73.11, an indication it took some adjustment to the American courses back in the fall.

"The grass type is different,'' Mansson said. "We don't have Bermuda grass. And there are some different layouts, too.

"I learned some new shots, which have helped me.''

Mansson is the Lady Vols' sixth Swede. Four of the previous five earned All-America. Katharina Larsson was UT's only SEC tournament champion, in 1994.

"From about the age of 12 I knew I wanted to go to the USA,'' Mansson said. "I wanted to play where it's pretty hot all year round.

"We can play in April (back home) but we still have to wear a lot of clothes.''

Mansson visited UT, Florida and Arizona on one big recruiting trip. The Lady Vols were clearly her favorite. It's a 10-hour trip from Stockholm to Knoxville in a best-case scenario, 17 or more at worst.

A second-team All-SEC pick, she led the Lady Vols to a third-place finish in the NCAA East Regional. Her 2-over-par 212 score tied for third.

Not surprisingly, her golfing idol is recently retired LPGA star, Anika Sorenstam.

"My (school) team got to play with her a couple of years ago,'' Mansson said, "and it was really fun.''

Sorenstam, who won 72 LPGA events and 10 majors, is hardly the only Swede who's made it at golf's highest level. Henrik Stenson recently won The Players Championship on the men's tour.

"I always look up the Swedish players on the Internet and follow them,'' Mansson said.

She will head back to Europe for several events this summer, hoping to earn a spot on Sweden's national team. But first she has unfinished business.

Pavon expects the Lady Vols to play well in Maryland. Senior Nicole Smith is averaging 74.53 strokes. Ginny Brown, Diana Cantu and Lauren Spurlock are the other regulars.

"This team has really outperformed my expectations,'' Pavon said.

The course in Owings Mills should be long and tough, which is exactly how Pavon wants it.

"Sometimes when you go to an easy, straightforward course, it brings the whole field into the tournament,'' she said. "Our team for the most part hits the ball far enough to play well on a long course.

"This week you'll have to be a good player.''